Wednesday, December 24

Christmas Eve already, its come around so fast and we are nearly at the point of "if its not done now, forget it" which is the point at which I finally begin to relax.

Small-N-Grubby is much better and looking forward to his first performance playing the bells with the Minitones at the Christingle this afternoon.

Took a photo yesterday but never got a chance to blog. I'm enjoying the seasonal photo prompts as it gives a record of a family Christmas through objects you might not normally photograph. Yesterday was 'Cards'. We always put string across the curtain poles and hang them all up.

Today its the big man himself 'Father Christmas'. I painted this one a couple of years ago in very muted colours rather than Christmas brights so he goes with any colour scheme. He's been to a few sales with me but I'm quite pleased that he always comes home again.

The meat for tomorrow is cooking - chicken this year, a bit everyday but we like it. Then I shall cook Yorkshire puddings and everything else can be made hot tomorrow for the minimum amount of time in the kitchen. Although this year I am experimenting with 2 different homemade stuffings and my own Gluten Free gravy recipe. Wish me luck!!!

Almost forgot this cute photo from bath time, you can't be 'bah humbug' with one of these around.

Friday, December 19

My patience has worn thin and I have succumbed to Octocide. Or at least I thought I had. After beating the offending tentacle with the butt of a screwdriver it made an awful dying screaming and then all went quiet. Here it is dead but still smiling.

It's like something from a horror movie, sporadically it springs to life and chirps, bleats and squeaks all manor of strange tunes. I've considered removing a tentacle but there is something really eerie about the way it just continues to smile at you. It's currently silent (and long may it stay that way), still drying out from its trip around the washing machine.

Today's HS:MS:HS is 'Food', which is just what we went out to buy yesterday. With little success. M&S had more staff than customers but the shelves were still fairly bare. Hopefully Sainsburys will be well stocked for a dawn raid tomorrow morning.

Thursday, December 18

HS:MS:HS 'Glow'. I love these artificial candles, they are so useful. Particularly as we had a power cut last night and we were unprepared. Most torches had no batteries (the kids are always playing with them) and we don't really have candles for safety reasons with 3 children and a dog about the place.

Missed most of Desperate Housewives, hardly a tragedy and I did watch a bit on the +1 channel when the power came back. What was eerie was the number of sirens we could hear outside just after the power went off. Maybe we don't hear them normally or maybe lots of people were in a very vulnerable position when the lpower went off!!

This morning I have put a load of toys through the washing machine, washable or not - it was either that or chuck them out. I am now being driven mad by an Octopull whose music chip has shorted out and just won't stop, aaaarrrggh. Every time it stops for a moment you sigh with relief and then it starts up again. How long do the batteries in one of these things last, it must be years old??

Tuesday, December 16

Things I've been up to for the last few days, with a catch up of HS:MS:HS photos along the way.

Friday was Small-N-Grubby's school nativity. The photo prompt for the day was 'Star' which by coincidence was exactly what he was.

I got this shot at the end as I could see exactly diddly-squat throughout the whole performance. The new head at the school opened the doors as the children arrived at school even though the play didn't start until 9.30. This was a sensible yet previously unheard of move which we did not pre-empt. Arriving at 9.15 there were only seats in the middle left with just the odd glimpse of a child over and around the parents sat in front.

Saturday was the church Christmas party day. The Supreme Commander attended his 1st one and had his 1st glimpse of Santa. As you can see he didn't think much of the whole thing as he posed for a rather sad winter SPS.

After scraping jelly and ice cream off the floor the older children were let in for a disco. Today's photo prompt is 'Gold', so here is a photo of my golden disco ball necklace which I made to wear to the party.

I've also finished this set for a Christmas pressie (which I can show as the recipient is not on the net). Bit of a blurred picture but I don't realise until after I'd wrapped it.

Today I'm finishing off more presents as Himself allows me. At the moment he is on my lap wrestling me for the keyboard, with the dog contentedly at my feet (but only cos the kitchen door is shut and she can't get to the sofa!)

** Kate **

I'm sure I could write far more interesting stuff if only she'd let me get a proper go at the keys ........ SC

Thursday, December 11

Still kidding myself that I am well ahead with all my Christmas preparations. Started writing my Christmas cards last night. Using up my stock of cards so I don't have to make any. So why did I buy all those new Christmas papers?!?!

Tuesday, December 9

Its definitely winter but I haven't been out getting wintry shots yet, I'm not used to the cold! So for HS:MS:HS today a wintry night sky that I photographed a few weeks back.

Feeling quite virtuous as I have been wrapping my Christmas presents to get them done before school finishes and avoid the midnight wrapping when you finally have excited children sleeping.

Still have loads of bits to make though and a little bit of shopping to finish. ** Planned for Friday so watch out for blizzards, hurricanes and floods **.

Also hunted out all the decorations but hardly any are put up yet. I'm having a battle with the children for a smaller tree this year as we have an extra little body in the house who seems to have acquired a lot of stuff. I want them to have room to spread their new toys out and have a fun Christmas morning, they can't see past the idea of the big tree with a train running around the bottom.

We'll see who wins??

On a sad note I hear that Oliver Postgate has died. Children's television will probably not see the like again. Bagpuss, Nogin the Nog, Clangers, Ivor the Engine and Pogles Wood to name but a few of his marvellous creations. In this house at least a new generation will be brought up knowing his work. Even the Supreme Commander has a 'pish-ti-cuff' noise made at him to get his mouth open and shovel some tea in.

Monday, December 8

I know the Supreme Commander hasn't been sleeping well for a couple of weeks and now we know why. We had our suspicions but there is definitely a sharp, pointy tooth poking through his bottom gum. Breast feeding and teeth at 22 weeks is not a good combination!

The family have spent the weekend following the Dinky Diva around with her handbell group. On Saturday they played at a local church Christmas tree festival. As today's HS:MS:HS is 'Decoration' please take any or all of the following as my contribution.

Various individuals or groups enter a tree, I think there were about 100 this year. Some traditional, some modern, some with a message and some down right bizarre.

Small-n-Grubby had the class puppet to write in its diary about the weekend's activities, so here they are in front of a lavender tree.

Both Donkey and I had a favorite tree it was completely covered in glittered brussel sprouts.

I remember making decorations like this with my sisters but had forgotten how they were done.

I see Sizzix now does a die that will cut and score the circles for you, I meant to pick one up at Hobbycraft and forgot.

Now for the bizarre, this was the entry from the Methodist church where we go for Brownies etc.

Hhhmmmm, least said about that the better.

On Sunday the Belles took us to Waitrose to entertain the shoppers. We had quite a lovely day with carol singing, lunch in the restaurant and shopping as well as the bells. Here is the DD concentrating.

Thursday, December 4

Didn't get around to blogging the photo I took for yesterday's prompt 'Tradition'.Someone is getting a hand knitted gift this Christmas!

Today's word is 'Lights'.The Supreme Commander slept for at least 6 hours last night after I stuffed him with food all day. However, it still wasn't in his bed, at least it's little steps forward.

The 4 December is our 10th anniversary for SMO and I. Mum is popping in to babysit whilst we nip out to late night shopping and have a couple of hours to ourselves. The last couple of days have been crisp and clear, if a bit chilly, but of course it hasn't stopped pouring with rain all day today. It better clear up later.

The shopping plan is M&S 20% off day and 10% off evening at the local bead store. I might be forced to check out the gluten free options in Thorntons as well, it would be rude not to, wouldn't?

Tuesday, December 2

It's about thumb nail size hence the strange blown-up picture. I think I will be on the look out for some slightly more bell shaped flowers for the skirt, I've seen some with a teardrop bead on the bottom so I could try that too.

Here is one of my other little angels trying out the highchair for the 1st time. I say angel though his ability to sleep anywhere but his own bed makes me think there is definitely a bit of devil in there too.

Here's the cake standy thing I mentioned yesterday that i bought to put paints and inks in.

The Dinky Diva has asked for it to filled with cakes for Christmas, we'll have to see.

Monday, December 1

SMO, as i think I have said before, does the shopping 1st thing Saturday morning as the supermarket is opening. So he set off early and walked in to town past a local council building site. The paths have been blocked so temporary wooden bridges have been built to bypass the works.

The bridge was iced over and he slipped and fell, unknown to him losing the house keys. He arrives at the shops and digs in his pocket for £1 for the trolley and discovers they are gone, so we know for certain they are somewhere between our house and the shops.

When he gets back with the shopping we all go out and search everywhere. The troll that lives under the little wooden bridge (aka site security guard) even came out and searched on his side of the fences in case they had been kicked underneath. Nothing.

I spend a cold Saturday afternoon at the out of town DIY store buying a new lock. Which includes a phone argument about the size because I ask SMO to check the measurements and he says its about 5cm. The locks are in very precise 45mm and 57mm sizing so against his nature he was forced to make a firm decision!

It happens to be 10% off DIY day and as its not too busy I have a look around and find one of those nice metal cake stands for storing craft supplies in (will photograph when I get time).

Decide the lock is the right size but that the door will need a bit of adjusting and arrange for help with it on Sunday (thank you Charles).

Call mum that evening to update her on my day and she says she saw some keys on a wall on the way into town. Off goes SMO with a little lantern to investigate where he manages to fall over again and find nothing. I'm surprised he didn't manage to get himself arrested. He went out again as soon as it was light but they were definitely gone.

We have a nice new lock now and surely that means that the old keys will turn up anytime now. I've bought SMO one of those clip chains to attach his keys to his trousers. He says he has never lost them before but he only counts losing them if you never actually find them again, so apparently the day we had to collect them from the police station doesn't count!

I think it was my niece the other day who said "Why can't I live in a normal family" or words to that effect!!

HS:MS:HS - Advent - could this be the start of some seasonal photo prompts?